The British Love Their Crumble!

I learned to love apple crumble whilst at boarding school in England.  It was one of my favorite deserts and, indeed, is served at many an English table.  In fact, it is an English favorite.  It probably does not have quite as high a billing as apple pie does in America, but almost!

When you find yourself in England ordering apple crumble, you will probably be offered custard or “cream” (heavy whipping cream).    In America, we usually serve it with vanilla ice cream but if you would like to try it with cream or custard

(Bird’s is the best brand to buy), I don’t think you will be disappointed.

This is a really easy dessert to make and everyone seems to enjoy it   It should be called, simply, “fruit crumble” as you can put all sorts of different fruits in your crumble.  You can put peaches (Del Monte peaches in the bottle are great or you can use frozen ones) in your crumble, add blackberries to apples, you can use strawberries or strawberries and rhubarb, cherries….masses of different fruits taste yummy with “crumble” on top.

So, why not try it?  I can almost guarantee that it will be loved and will bring joy to the hearts of the imbibers!

APPLE  CRUMBLE

6 tart apples (Granny Smith are great)
3/4 cup white sugar
2 Tbs cinnamon
1/2 t nutmeg
1 cup flour
3/4 cups brown sugar
2 sticks butter (cold) – for those of you who know me, you know that I am the Butter Queen!  You can use less butter if you want – maybe 1-1/2 sticks

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees

Peel and core your apples and then slice them into 1/4 slices

Place half of the apples in an ungreased, oven-to-table pan

Combine white sugar and cinnamon and aprinkle over layer of apples, generously.  Place the rest of the apples on top and put another layer of the white sugar with the cinnamon over it, leaving a little of the sugar and cinnamon mixture left.  Set aside.

In a bowl, put the butter, flour, brown sugar and a pinch of salt and cut it up, either with a pastry cutter or with your fingers, until you have pea sized bits.  Add the “left over” sugar and cinnamon mixture.  This is your “crumble”

Place crumble on top of apples and bake for 45 minutes or until the fruit is soft and the top is golden.

Where’s the ice cream?  We are ready!

Enjoy!